Sony stopped making Betamax recorders in 2002, but it kept making tapes for die-hard fans. Japan’s Funai Electric cited a sharp decline in sales and trouble sourcing parts for its decision to stop making VCRs at a plant in China by the end of this month. Most of the consumer electronics firm’s VCRs were sold in North America in recent years, including under the Sanyo brand. VHS, developed by another Japanese electronics maker that later became part of JVC, won the battle. The popularity of Betamax tapes peaked in 1984 when some 50 million cassettes were shipped.

Source: Mint July 22, 2016 14:26 UTC